Isolation: An Interactive Animated Trilogy Short Film about Mental Health Awareness during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mental health is more than the presence or absence of a mental illness. COVID-19 has led to self and social isolation, disconnection from family and friends. More people than ever are experiencing feelings of helplessness, isolation, grief, anxiety, and depression. In such cases, the team took advantage of the opportunity to raise mental health awareness by developing a trilogy of interactive short films with a website that would support the project's purpose. The film has three characters with different stories, namely Marion;a college student who is struggling to adjust to his new average experience from his online class and Kayla;a nurse who is also a mother of three children, who must participate in treating the patients with COVID at the hospital, and Marie;an OFW who works from Saudi Arabia wants to go home to visit her family. The study also intends to explore the impact of coping strategies and perceived social support on one's ability to handle social isolation stress. Each of the characters' stories will represent the different outlook on possible mental health symptoms that everyone has experienced during the pandemic. The stories presented in the film will be based on real-life circumstances and experiences of people who have lived through the pandemic. The story aims to give hope to its viewers on what lies ahead of the pandemic. Upon testing the produced output, the study results show that most people only have a general idea when it comes to the topic of mental health issues. The study also yielded that the project has spread and increased awareness about the topic under study. Although the project could attain its specific goals and adjectives, the best and only conclusion is to seek professional help from credible and trusted experts in their respective health fields. © 2022 IEEE.

Superior mesenteric venous thrombosis: A narrative review

Superior mesenteric venous (SMV) thrombosis is an infrequent thrombotic event of hypercoagulable states that can cause intestinal ischemia, hemorrhage, or infarction. Despite severe consequences, SMV thrombosis often presents with nonspecific clinical features, including abdominal pain, distension, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, intestinal obstruction, and bloody stool. SMV thrombosis may cause portal hypertension and its associated symptoms like intractable ascites of profuse production. Laboratory data may include elevation of hepatic enzyme, amylase, or lipase levels. SMV thrombosis is associated with a specific etiology (malignancy, thrombophilia, inflammatory bowel disease, intra-abdominal infection, or surgery). Other conditions or diseases such as pregnancy, puerperium, influenza, coronavirus disease-2019, and vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia are associated with thrombosis formation in various vessels, including SMV. Computed tomography (CT) imaging in the venous phase is considered the most reliable diagnostic method of choice. CT imaging may find acute thrombi present in SMV associated with submucosal edema in some intestinal loops. Management strategies are complicated by an underlying prothrombotic state and an increased risk of bleeding. SMV thrombosis can be reversed by effective anticoagulation. Prompt transcatheter thrombolysis can achieve early SMV revascularization. Early diagnosis prevents anticoagulation with continuous intravenous infusion of unfractionated heparin preventing subsequent consequences. Open laparotomy with mesenteric revascularization and resection of necrotic bowel has been considered the gold standard of care. Despite systemic anticoagulation therapy with intravenous heparin, the decision of an exploratory open thrombectomy could be made for patient deterioration clinically. The mortality rate among patients with acute SMV thrombosis ranges from less than 10% to 50%, depending on disease severity requiring surgical intervention. Negative predictors of survival include a higher Charlson comorbidity index and malignancy. Earlier diagnosis by the widespread use of CT scanning and aggressive treatment with anticoagulation may prevent progression to gangrenous bowel and lower mortality rates. © 2023 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Modelling the Dynamics of Fake News Spreading Transmission During Covid-19 Through Social Media

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019. The case fatality ratio for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has been much lower than SARS of 2003, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll. As of 20 May 2020, there are a total of 5,085,449 confirmed cases and 329,239 death cases in the world with more than 200 countries affected. Malaysia reported a total of 7,009 confirmed cases, 5,706 recoveries and 114 deaths. According to the Global Web Index (GWI), it can be seen that there is a significant increase in the usage of social media among global users for the past month, including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. By going online, people can stay updated to the news more easily and information can be spread at a higher speed. However, it can also bring negative impact among the users when people misuse this platform to spread fake news, causing misconception, anxiety and fear as they become “viral”. The spread of fake news can lead to several misconceptions among social media users, which can cause unnecessary fear and anxiety. For example, when Movement Control Order (MCO) was first announced in Malaysia on 16 March 2020, fake news about the shortage of food supply spread through the social media within hours, and this had led to more people rushing to the supermarkets to stock up their groceries. This paper discussed the transmission of fake news to understand the rate of spreading. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to propose a mathematical model that can describe the dynamics of the spread of fake news through social media along the period of MCO through different social media platforms. This study also suggests some measures that can be taken by different parties, such as individuals, society and government to solve the issue of fake news transmission. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

COVID-19 associated with pulmonary aspergillosis: A literature review

Bacterial or virus co-infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been reported in many studies, however, the knowledge on Aspergillus coinfection among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was limited. This literature review aims to explore and describe the updated information about COVID-19 associated with pulmonary aspergillosis. We found that Aspergillus spp. can cause co-infections in patients with COVID-19, especially in severe/critical illness. The incidence of IPA in COVID-19 ranged from 19.6% to 33.3%. Acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation was the common complications, and the overall mortality was high, which could be up to 64.7% (n Z 22) in the pooled analysis of 34 reported cases. The conventional risk factors of invasive aspergillosis were not common among these specific populations. Fungus culture and galactomannan test, especially from respiratory specimens could help early diagnosis. Aspergillus fumigatus was the most common species causing co-infection in COVID-19 patients, followed by Aspergillus flavus. Although voriconazole is the recommended anti-Aspergillus agent and also the most commonly used antifungal agent, aspergillosis caused by azoleresistant Aspergillus is also possible. Additionally, voriconazole should be used carefully in the concern of complicated drug-drug interaction and enhancing cardiovascular toxicity on anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. Finally, this review suggests that clinicians should keep alerting the possible occurrence of pulmonary aspergillosis in severe/critical COVID-19 patients, and aggressively microbiologic study in addition to SARS-CoV-2 via respiratory specimens should be indicated.

Cardiac Involvement of COVID-19: A Comprehensive Review

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. SARS-CoV-2 caused COVID-19 has reached a pandemic level. COVID-19 can significantly affect patients' cardiovascular systems. First, those with COVID-19 and preexisting cardiovascular disease have an increased risk of severe disease and death. Mortality from COVID-19 is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension. Second, therapies under investigation for COVID-19 may have cardiovascular side effects of arrhythmia. Third, COVID-19 is associated with multiple direct and indirect cardiovascular complications. Associated with a high inflammatory burden related to cytokine release, COVID-19 can induce vascular inflammation, acute myocardial injury, myocarditis, arrhythmias, venous thromboembolism, metabolic syndrome and Kawasaki disease. Understanding the effects of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular system is essential for providing comprehensive medical care for cardiac and/or COVID-19 patients. We hereby review the literature on COVID-19 regarding cardiovascular virus involvement.

Biological Characteristics and Drug Development Strategy for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

In January 2020,a new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 broke out in Wuhan,China,and up to noon of March 15 of 2020,it has become a worldwide epidemic disseminating 148 countries and regions around the world.Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has led to a serious healthy event for people from all over the world,and this event has caused widespread concern in the international community.Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus all belongs to β-B coronaviruses,and they also have similar affinity for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2.Spike glycoprotein is a key protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,which help severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 to bind to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor of human beings.Spike glycoprotein has both receptor binding and membrane fusion activities,which could promote the entrance and infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 into the affected host cells.Many characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 have been understood recently,including rapid spread among different species,extensive host distribution,and high variability,etc.Thus,it is necessary to develop broad-spectrum drugs or vaccines for coronaviruses,and specific drugs or vaccines for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.This article reviews the biological characteristics and drug development strategies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.The purpose aims to provide references for the further research of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and the development of the relative therapeutic drugs.